Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in New Mexico make a median of $41,590 a year, or about $19.99 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $44,692 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 39.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in New Mexico?
About firefighters
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for firefighters in New Mexico runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 39% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for firefighterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in New Mexico
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $43K | +3% | 280 |
| Albuquerque | $42K | +2% | 950 |
| Santa Fe | $31K | -25% | 300 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 39% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $42K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for firefighters?
New Mexico pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in New Mexico?
The median is $41,590 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced firefighters can clear $57,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,868/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 39% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a firefighters salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median firefighters salary is worth about $44,692 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do firefighters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.